Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Heinemann Volume 4).djvu/267

 To the mountebank-meeting came also the devil;— Thought he'd try his luck with the rest of them. His talent was this: in a manner convincing, He was able to grunt like a flesh-and-blood pig. He was not recognised, yet his manners attracted. The house was well filled; expectation ran high. He stepped forth in a cloak with an ample cape to it; Man mus sich drappiren, as the Germans say. But under the mantle—what none suspected— He'd managed to smuggle a real live pig. And now he opened the representation; The devil he pinched, and the pig gave voice. The whole thing purported to be a fantasia On the porcine existence, both free and in bonds; And all ended up with a slaughter-house squeal— Whereupon the performer bowed low and retired.— The critics discussed and appraised the affair; The tone of the whole was attacked and defended. Some fancied the vocal expression too thin, While some thought the death-shriek too carefully studied; But all were agreed as to one thing: qua grunt, The performance was grossly exaggerated.— Now that, you see, came of the devil's stupidity In not taking the measure of his public first. [''He bows and goes off. A puzzled silence comes over the crowd.''